You're completely right when you say "nonsense". I'm the founder of StyleFeeder. I've worked for five startups before this. Being a founder is a unique experience characterized by a constant feeling of being angry all the time and being emotionally drained by your work. Don't get me wrong - I love what I do, the people I work with and the company is doing great, but it is fucking hard. And I feel that all the time as 'founder' whereas I never did as an 'employee.'
I've also had conversations with other founders who independently used the exact same language to describe how they feel about their companies.
My simple rule: if there's nothing there when you start, you're a founder.
+1 to being angry all the time. I wasn't angry per se but I was certainly edgy. I loved my product but when I was on my first startup I really hated myself for giving up the potential to advance in my career and I desperately feared going nowhere and trying to explain to some clueless HR person the gap in my resume. Fortunately it worked out but that sucked :)
I've also had conversations with other founders who independently used the exact same language to describe how they feel about their companies.
My simple rule: if there's nothing there when you start, you're a founder.